Joseph and Mary were engaged to be married (I'd love to know how he proposed!). Sometime before their marriage, Mary was found to be with child after a visitation from an angel. During this visitation, the angel told Mary that she would carry the son of God and serve as his mother on earth. Well, this puts dear Joseph in a difficult situation. His soon to be wife was pregnant and he had nothing to do with it and furthermore, explaining the situation to his friends and family would most likely cause them to believe he is indeed crazy.
Joseph had every right to break off the engagement in a vicious manner, but being the man that he was, he decided to go through with the separation quietly. But before he could follow through with his plan, Joseph was met by an angel who told him to stay by Mary's side and raise the son of God. I can't imagine what was going through his mind during all of this; if it were me, I probably would have fled to the another country where I could start a new life with a new name, escaping the accusations of being a crazy person.
But Joseph didn't.
He obediently followed the call that God had placed on his life. He took Mary as his wife and together they faced public scrutiny. Together, under God's authority and calling, they served as Jesus' earthly parents.
I think Mary gets a lot of attention for her role, and believe me, I understand how great of a role it was. But what about Joseph? I can't help but wonder what kind of man Joseph was that he was called in to such an honorable position. I wonder what his courage looked like. I wonder how he lead Mary and spurred her on in her relationship with God. I wonder what parenting Jesus looked like.
As a woman with hopes of marriage at some point, I can't help but think about all of these things. I can't help but want such a God-fearing man as Joseph. I want a man willing to look past worldly gimmicks and laughter, only to look forward to God's greater treasures. I want a man who will lead me and stay by my side no matter what. I want a man that understands and will encourage me to follow in the specific path God is directing me in and to walk with me there.
I'd like to ask for forgiveness for having high expectations in men, but in that same breath, I honestly don't think I want to. I don't expect any man to be perfect, but I do expect certain Godly qualities to be exist. I don't expect them to have it all together, because that will never happen, but I do expect that he tries and that there be evidence of that effort.
Before anyone assumes I have put myself on a pedestal of perfection, you certainly won't find me up there. Look for me somewhere on the ground amidst the dirt. But I know that I'm trying. And I hope you can see evidence of my efforts, and if not, I'll just keep trying.
I could only hope for the faith and strength of Mary, and I hope that my future husband hopes for the faith, leadership and strength of Joseph. And I hope that in our marriage, we will walk forward together with our eyes locked on those of Christ's.
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